Letter to the Editor: Let’s disrupt the silence

Read Vivetha Thambinathan’s (PhD student, Health Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University) letter in the Western Gazette:

Non-Black people, like myself, have a responsibility to labour in thinking through and acting in ways that support, affirm and advocate for our Black students, staff and faculty at this time… We can do this by asserting our understanding that this country was founded on anti-Black chattel slavery and the genocide of Indigenous peoples as part of the nation-building project. And acknowledging that white supremacy and race logic are embedded within our institutions in ways that privilege whiteness and uphold colonialist values. As professor Angela Davis has eloquently said: “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.”

Read full letter in the Western Gazette.

Survey: The use of digital technology by people caring for family or friends with Alzheimer ’s disease or dementia related diseases

Researchers are looking for volunteers to take part in a study of family / friend caregiver’s use of digital technology to care for someone with Alzheimer ’s disease or dementia related diseases. To participate in the study, individuals must be: (1) a family/friend caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia related disease, (2) provide a minimum of 4 hours of caregiving per week, (3) are 18 years of age or older.

If you are interested and agree to participate, you will be asked to: complete a survey about your use of information technologies (computers, smart phones) and use of online resources to support your caregiving role. Read more and participate in the survey (PDF).

Following Jeff Preston’s Advocacy Work on COVID-19 and Disability in Canada

Photo from jeffpreston.ca, used by permission

On May 4, 2020, Jeff Preston (Assistant Professor of Disability Studies at King’s University College, Western University) provided testimony to the House of Common’s Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) committee regarding disability in the COVID-19 in Canada. On May 15, Jeff further discussed his statements on London Morning with Rebecca Zandbergen.

Be sure to read Jeff’s lead article in the CRHESI/Pillar Voices from the Margins of a Crisis series: Considering Complex Lives, Value and COVID-19